UFC 294: Paulo Costa Out, Kamaru Usman Steps in vs Khamzat Chimaev

ByITN News Desk
Kamaru Usman UFC

Kamaru Usman has come in to replace Paulo Costa to face Khamzat Chimaev at October 21’s UFC 294 event.

Dana White has announced that Paulo Costa won’t be able to compete in his scheduled fight against Khamzat Chimaev due to medical clearance issues. As a result, Kamaru Usman will step in to replace him.

Costa took to Twitter to reveal that he has been hospitalized and has undergone a second surgery. He further mentioned that a third surgery will be required. Despite these challenges, Costa expressed his determination to return to the Octagon before the end of 2023.

Earlier this week on his Instagram, Costa revealed that he had undergone elbow surgery, but expressed his intention to fight Khamzat Chimaev. However, his medical condition has changed, leading to his withdrawal from the scheduled fight.

Considered one of the greatest UFC welterweights, Kamaru Usman lost the 170 lbs title last year to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 via last-minute knockout. The loss brought his remarkable 21-fight winning streak to an end. He suffered another setback at UFC 286 in the title rematch against Leon Edwards, where he was defeated by a majority decision.

Usman will be making his middleweight debut with this bout. However, a win here could assure him a shot at the Middleweight Championship immediately. Usman had previously refrained from challenging for this title due to his friend Israel Adesanya holding it for a long time.

Khamzat Chimaev is currently on a 12-fight winning streak, with six of those wins occurring in the UFC. He has been absent from the octagon since UFC 279, following a victory over Kevin Holland. He was originally supposed to face Nate Diaz at that event in a welterweight bout, but ended up missing the weight by 10 lbs. A fight against Kevin Holland was managed to be booked after the weigh-in event.

Chimaev will also be assured the title shot in case he manages to beat Usman. Out of his 6 bouts in UFC, 3 have come at middleweight while 2 have come at welterweight, and one at 180 lbs catchweight.

UFC 294 event is scheduled for October 21, 2023, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. A featherweight bout is also set for the event, where Nathaniel Wood will face Muhammad Naimov.

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